weight loss despite eating - Page 2

Bunsey · 09-24-2007, 01:50 PM

mocha weighs 4 ounces. we also weighed fluff, who is fairly petite, but normal, and she weighs 5 ounces, which doesn't sound much more, but it's a quarter of the weight again. it's like the difference between 2 people who weigh 10 stone and 12.5 stone. a big difference.

souffle · 09-24-2007, 03:02 PM

4oz is only about 100g isn't it Bunsey. That is really quite low for a syrian. Our smallest 'pet shop' syrian was about 125g and was happy, healthy and lived a long life though. Can you weigh her in grams at all? Our current smallest is about 170g.

Bunsey · 09-25-2007, 11:30 AM

yeah, 4oz is 110g. 5 ounces (our next smallest) is 142g, so she really is teeny! i've got her booked into the vets for thursday so we'll see what they say. i would've liked a particular vet, but i didn't want to wait so i just took anyone, i don't know how good they are with hamsters.

Oh my gosh, i just weighed her and she is under 4oz now... about 105g

Bunsey · 09-27-2007, 01:33 PM

update: vet tonight basically said there's no way to tell what's wrong with her and there's nothing they can do for diabetes anyway. she just said don't give her sugary treats, whic i knew anyway. great waste of £13. it's just so pointless going to the vets with hamsters unless they've got mites or something treatable like that. it really annoys me how there's no provisions for anything other than cat and dog. anyway, i've got a diabetes pet test stick thing to test her myself.

**Spuds Mum** · 09-27-2007, 01:52 PM

oh what a shame Bunsey

I must say my vets are fantastic with my hamsters though they do get to see a lot of us lately!!
I guess you could treat her as though she has diabetes as he suggested, but if she gets worse I would suggest asking around other pet owners to see if you can find a vet who is more amenable to small animals. £13 seems a lot for not much - when Chip had her operation including antibiotics, eye gel an overnight stay and the op itself they only charged £18!!!!

so we must be really lucky.
I don't have any experience of diabetic hamsters but I'm sure more people will be able to give some practical advice.
Good luck to Mocha and you Bunsey x

**babyboos** · 09-28-2007, 02:41 PM

some vets are shocking and really give the profession a bad name when it comes to small pets, you can report them to their governing body. They can test for diabetes and should have done as well as showing you how to do it yourself at home and interpret the results. I have not got any sticks in date anymore, I gave the last lot away to someone on another forum to test her Campbell's dwarf, but I got them from eBay when I used to buy them regularly. I haven't had a diabetic Syrian for years, but Honeyhams the Yahoo Group was absolutely invaluable to me, as was Jane on there. I do recommend having a look at the group and reading some of the information they have posted on there.

souffle · 09-28-2007, 03:37 PM

I am sorry that your vets visit was so unproductive Poor wee hammy. As babyboos said at least they could have tested her and put your mind at ease with a diagnosis as they could have ruled out diabetes if the test was negative. I find with hammies (and many other animals) at vets I usually have to tell them what is wrong. I think there should be more on small animals in vet med degrees really as most are unimpressive in their knowledge though not all. I hope you find out what is up Bunsey and you can do something for the wee lamb.

Holly · 09-29-2007, 01:09 AM

How awful, Bunsey.

Would it be worth looking for another vet? I go to a large city practice where they have small animal specialists and, though I've not had to take a hamster yet, they were always brilliant with my rabbits. I've phoned them for advice and it's always been good.

Hope you manage to sort something for little Mocha.

Bunsey · 09-30-2007, 09:45 AM

unfortunately, that vet is actually better than my other local vet who didn't even know that syrians live alone. she told me they couldn't do a diabetes test without fresh pee, even though i took a sample of wet sand. i'm just going to treat her as if she might be diabetic and not give her any sugar-containing things.

souffle · 09-30-2007, 12:34 PM

Have you tried the test strip you had Bunsey? Any results there?